Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lages

For one person, living is cheaper in Lages: $931 a month against $2,698 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $21,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,698
/mo nomad
Lages
🇧🇷 Brazil
$931
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Lages

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Lages actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,698 in Austin, TX versus $931 in Lages.

  • Austin, TX $2,698
  • Lages $931

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,160 in Austin, TX versus $1,494 in Lages.

  • Austin, TX $4,160
  • Lages $1,494

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,622 in Austin, TX versus $2,058 in Lages.

  • Austin, TX $5,622
  • Lages $2,058

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 190% more expensive than in Lages, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 99% above, Lages is 31% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Lages
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.63 $20.63
$7.95 R$40.28
159.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$39.35 R$199
114.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.07 $12.07
$6.90 R$34.96
74.93%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$2.52 R$12.77
117.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 $3.80
$1.42 R$7.22
167.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.06 R$5.39
133.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$2.48 R$12.56
224.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.88 $8.88
$2.98 R$15.10
197.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Lages
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.00 R$5.07
11.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$1.68 R$8.52
121.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$1.09 R$5.51
209.17%
Eggs
$4.32 $4.32
$2.46 R$12.45
75.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.13 $13.13
$10.28 R$52.1
27.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.15 $14.15
$4.88 R$24.73
189.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.33 $16.33
$9.90 R$50.2
64.95%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$2.45 R$12.42
85.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.52 R$7.69
-3.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.71 $4.71
$1.41 R$7.16
234.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$1.62 R$8.20
156.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.25 R$6.34
106.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.08 R$5.47
117.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$0.94 R$4.79
88.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$0.81 R$4.11
164.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.10 $10.10
$2.54 R$12.87
297.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.19 $15.19
$8.22 R$41.66
84.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.14 R$5.76
147.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$2.26 R$11.47
52.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Lages
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.00 R$5.09
54.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.99 $40.99
$44.06 R$223
-6.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.80 $2.80
$1.28 R$6.51
118.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 $1.60
$0.81 R$4.12
97.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.34 $34.34
$8.29 R$42.05
314.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.34 R$6.77
-29.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K $34.0K
$23.9K R$121.4K
41.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$33.4K R$169.4K
-19.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Lages
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$77.0 R$390
189.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$12.30 R$62.4
378.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$22.01 R$112
220.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Lages
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 $57.7
$25.95 R$132
122.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.53 $16.53
$27.71 R$140
-40.35%
Cinema Ticket
$14.26 $14.26
$7.50 R$38.02
90.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Lages
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,511 $1,511
$282 R$1,428
436.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.9K $20.9K
$7,318 R$37.1K
185.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Lages
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$50.3 R$255
1.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.17 $44.17
$57.6 R$292
-23.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.0 $87.0
$102 R$518
-14.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$79.7 R$404
30.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Lages
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,940 $1,940
$362 R$1,833
436.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 $1,316
$245 R$1,241
437.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$681 R$3,454
437.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,565 $2,565
$465 R$2,358
451.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,354 $7,354
$1,705 R$8,643
331.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,129 $3,129
$1,216 R$6,164
157.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Lages
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,286 $5,286
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
11.5
-40.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: October 19, 2026

Last update for Lages: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Lages
$245 81.4% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$406
Lages
$207 49% $199
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$352
Lages
$111 68.4% $241
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$350
Lages
$143 59.2% $207
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Lages
$130 1% $1.3
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Lages
$41 52.5% $45
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$58
Lages
$53 7.8% $4.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,940 in Austin, TX and $362 in Lages. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $39.00 in Lages for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $406 vs $207 per month, with Lages cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇧🇷 Lages
🕒 Local time
17:35 5:35 PM
19:35 7:35 PM
2 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
164,981
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Lages 8,190 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Lages

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Austin, TX vs Lages: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Lages?
Lages wins on cost – living expenses run 190% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lages the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Lages?
You'd need roughly $4,046 in Austin, TX and $1,396 in Lages to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Lages?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,940 in Austin, TX versus $362 in Lages. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Lages?
All in, you'll spend $2,698 per month in Austin, TX versus $931 in Lages – a 190% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Lages?
A monthly transit pass in Lages runs roughly 7% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Lages?
At $931 in Lages versus $2,698 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lages but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lages the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Lages?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lages gentler on the wallet – expenses run 190% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

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